Failed Prophecies:

He had over two hundred failed prophecies.¹ Having just one disqualifies someone as being a true prophet of God. (See Deut. 18:22) While he may not have proclaimed himself to be "a prophet," the fact is he gave out false prophecies and claimed to have received new truth from God.

Did Herbert W. Armstrong Really Set Dates?

Unqualified and Hypocritical:

He didn't fulfill the Biblical qualifications in I Tim. 3:1-10, Titus 1:6-8 and I Pet. 5:3. He preached that his members be truthful, honest, faithful and pure, yet he himself was a hypocrite. He preached against drunkenness, but was himself known to frequently overindulge in alcohol. (Herbert Armstrong's Tangled Web by David Robinson) Many scandals, lawsuits and accusations of the most serious sort have been revealed. These were not merely "allegations" but were documented in various issues of the Ambassador Report, in books and in letters by ministers who held high ranking positions and had nothing to gain by exposing these things.

It is known that HWA began sexually abusing his daughter Dorothy, starting in 1933, the year he was founding his radio ministry, and then three years later started committing incest with her, ending it in the early `40's.² Dorothy admitted this to certain others, such as Garner Ted Armstrong, David Antion (GTA's brother-in-law), Richard Armstrong, Lois Chapman³ (former wife of Richard Armstrong) and Henry Cornwall (an aid to HWA), plus Ramona Armstrong (HWA's second wife, Ramona Martin) found out about it later and divorced HWA. Jack Kessler said it was commonly reported among the board members. (See Jack Kessler 1981 letter) It was reported in newspapers during the divorce trial. All this, along with covering up his son's sexual immorality! HWA never denied the incest charges; therefore, how could he have been letting himself be "corrected by the Word of God"? Doesn't God remove His "true ministers" from service if they are living a life of sin, instead of letting them continue on for decades, destroying innocent lives?

Herbert W. Armstrong and the Incest

List of other places on our site where the incest story is mentioned.

Life of Opulence:

He lived a life of opulence and extravagance, wasting money on concerts, jet planes, paintings, jewelry, banquets, lavish gifts to foreign leaders and expensive homes staffed with servants. His salary was reported to be $258,426.96 a year in 1983. Added to this was his fringe benefits, his expense account and his limousine service. All this while many of his followers had to live in abject poverty and sickness. (See Ezek. 34:4)

Herbert W. Armstrong: The Rich Apostle

Plagiarized Doctrine from Others:

He plagiarized in his early years from the Church of God (Seventh Day) material. Examples: Much of the material in HWA's book, The United States and British Commonwealth in Prophecy (copyright 1967), was copied nearly verbatim from John H. Allen's book, Judah's Sceptre and Joseph's Birthright (written in 1902, copyrighted 1917). (Also mentioned in Ambassador Report #2, 1977, p. 48.) He stated that this "truth" was revealed to him alone. In addition, on at least two different occasions, Ambassador College employees discovered boxes in Herbert's basement containing material published by G.G. Rupert (minister of Church of God 7th day).

Herbert W. Armstrong's Religious Roots

Armstrong Charged With Plagiarizing "U.S. And Britain in Prophecy" (side by side comparison)

He taught some of the very same doctrines as the Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, Seventh-day Adventists and Church of God 7th Day (even admitting that he had studied their literature), yet claimed it was "new truth" that "the Living Christ" had revealed to him alone. However, the fact is that HWA's main beliefs were copied from other ministers and publications. (C. O. Dodd, who co-authored Andrew Dugger's book A True History of a True Religion, was the Jehovah's Witness that influenced HWA's early beliefs. He convinced Herbert that G.G. Rupert's belief in the observance of Hebrew holydays was mandatory.)

Roots of the Worldwide Church of God

HWA studied communism

Similar Message as Other Religious Cults:

He was only one of many pseudo religious groups that say they alone are the "one true Church of God," and their leader is the last days Elijah, a Prophet, true Apostle of God, etc. They preach the "Kingdom of God" or "New World" is coming soon, claim extra biblical revelation or mysteries (see ESN's critique of his Mystery of the Ages), say they are the "chosen" or elect, and use secrecy, isolation, cover-up and hidden agendas, never being upfront about their true intentions.

All or Nothing Statements (from those that have "the truth")

Promises Never Materialized:

He promised that his followers would have an abundant life, happy marriages, happy families, financial success, good health, a position in the Kingdom of God ("coming within the next few years!")--if they kept the Ten Commandments, Feast days (annual Sabbaths), Laws of Success, Laws of Health, Laws of Finances, all Tithing laws, and endured until the end by staying in "God's true Church" (this continues to be taught by authoritarian WCG offshoots such as Philadelphia Church of God, Living Church of God, Restored Church of God and others), but HWA's promises never materialized.

Did Herbert W. Armstrong Abuse His Flock?

Ashamed of the Lord Jesus Christ:

He said that he was spreading the true gospel ("the good news of the Kingdom of God"), yet refused to mention the name of "Jesus" or "Christ" when making "trips" to foreign nations, instead using the words "the give way," and "the get way." He ridiculed sacred hymns and messages that spoke of Jesus, calling it sanctimonious and unscriptural. (See Luke 9:26)

A Gnostic Gospel:

His teaching that one could (in so many words) only be saved by special enlightenment and being one of the spiritually elite actually resembles an ancient Christian heresy known as "Gnosticism" (prevalent in the 1st and 2nd centuries of the church.) The Gnostics put knowledge above faith.)

Preached a False Gospel:

He preached a false gospel of works and twisted and reinterpreted the Scriptures. For instance, he told his followers that the book of Galatians was referring to the "sacrificial" laws and not to the whole law. Yet when you read the expression "the law" in the Bible, it means the entire law that God gave Israel--ceremonial laws, judicial laws, offerings, incense, new moons, etc. Either they've all been fulfilled in Christ, or they're all in force. You can't pick and choose from the 613 old covenant laws. If you're going to observe them, you are obligated to do the whole law. (See Galatians 3:10. Also read: Seventh-Day Adventism Renounced and What is the Gospel?)

Didn't Fit Biblical Definition of "Apostle":

He allowed himself to be called an "Apostle" (even calling himself "Christ's apostle"⁴), yet the Scriptures show that an apostle was a man who had seen the resurrected Christ directly and was personally commissioned by Him to be an apostle. (Galatians 1:1)

No Evidence of Genuine Repentance:

He left no written record, nor reliable witnessed testimony, that he ever repented to God before he died for his many sins, or that he apologized and made amends to the thousands that he deceived, abused, and exploited, causing their lives and faith to be shattered.

Used Abusive Methods of Mind Control:

He used manipulative, abusive and destructive methods of mind control that other religious cults employ to recruit and retain their members: fear, guilt, shame and blind obedience (with no doubts allowed) to a leader with no accountability, etc. He slandered, accused and treated harshly those that genuinely tried to bring problems to his attention. (Read: Worldwide Church of God History.) He studied Adolph Hitler's methods of thought reform and crowd control (Read: Herbert Armstrong Used Mein Kampf as a Guide in Controlling People (includes links)

Fit the Definition of a Bible-based Cult:

His "Worldwide Church of God" fit the criteria of a deceptive, destructive cult (i. e. a totalitarian, and mind-controlling organization) and he fit the criteria of a cult leader. (See Articles on Understanding Mind Control & Exploitive Groups.)

By D. W.
Exit & Support Network™
January 6, 2001
Last updated April 24, 2007

Also Read: Why is it Difficult For Exiters to Question Herbert Armstrong?

Note: Herbert W. Armstrong died on January 16, 1986 at the age of 93. There was no coroner's inquest.

 

Thousands of innocent lives down through the decades have been deceived into following "God's Way" (HWA's way) and have reaped nothing but misery, pain, agony and heartache. Precious lives (including children's) have been shattered. Their painful testimonies written in many books, publications, letters, journals, and interviews stand as a witness that HWA's way was not "God's Way." It didn't bring peace, harmony and love, nor was there any grace or mercy in it. 
 

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world" (I Jn 4:1).
 

"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves" (Matt. 7:15).
 

"For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ" (II Cor. 11:13).
 

"But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily [subtly] shall bring in damnable heresies..." (II Pet. 2:1).
 

"For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ " (Jn. 1:17).

Footnotes:

1 These prophecies are listed on the internet. Also read: Did Herbert W. Armstrong Set Dates?

2 The incest story was covered in Ambassador Report #14, December 1980 ("HWA incest allegations not denied"); AR#27, April 1984 ("HWA confesses to incest"); AR#40, March 1988 ("strong evidence of HWA's incestuous relationship with his daughter Dorothy during the early '40s") and AR#68, April 1998 ("HWA incest again confirmed"). The AR brings out that Herbert Armstrong never sued David Robinson for publishing his book, and never did any of the members of Armstrong's family. The Ambassador Report may be viewed online. (Note: Please be aware that the AR is now posted on an agnostic/atheist website.) Dorothy married Vern Mattson in 1943. She drifted away from the WCG around 1951. More info about the incest can be found in Herbie's Secret Sins: Hearsay vs. Proof (correspondence between former WCG member and the author of Daughter of Babylon, The True History of the Worldwide Church of God) [Please be aware that this is posted on an agnostic/atheist site.]

3 Lois Lemon married Richard David Armstrong in June 1957. He died in July 1958 as a result of an automobile accident. (See: Richard Armstrong, a Tragic Death) Their son, Richard II, was born in 1958. About 2 l/2 years later, Lois married Ben Chapman. (The Autobiography of Herbert W. Armstrong, Plain Truth, August 1967)

4 Statements by HWA claiming to be "God's Apostle" or "Christ's Apostle" are quoted here.
 

"None of God's Servants Were Perfect" (for those who like to  use this reasoning)

How I "Proved"  Herbert W. Armstrong Was God's Apostle

Why is it Difficult For Exiters to Question Herbert Armstrong?

Where Do I Find the "One True Church"?

My Position in Christ (accepted and secure forever)

Prayers for Freedom From Spiritual Strongholds (very effective in gaining liberation from many strongholds and oppressions due to involvement in any harmful cult or occult practices; includes moral issues) 

Back to Questioning Herbert W. Armstrong (was he who he said he was?)